EDUCATIONAL TREE NURSERY AT NEGRIL PRIMARY SCHOOL PROJECT
This project is a collaborative effort between the Negril Research Centre and Negril Primary School, bringing together education, environmental stewardship, and community action. The project is supported by CCRIF SPC, under its Small Grants Programme. It is a forward-looking project that empowers students to take an active role in building a more resilient and sustainable Negril.
Our vision is simple: students will grow trees to offset their school’s carbon footprint while strengthening the local environment. Through hands-on learning, students move beyond textbooks and become environmental stewards, gaining practical experience in climate action at an early age.
Why does this matter for Negril? As a coastal community, we face increasing environmental pressures — stronger storms, coastal erosion, rising temperatures, and ecosystem loss. Trees are one of the most effective and affordable natural defenses we have. They capture and store carbon, improve air quality, reduce heat, stabilize soil, provide habitat for biodiversity and enhance the beauty that supports the tourism economy.
We are intentionally prioritizing native and climate-resilient species, suited to coastal conditions. Native species support biodiversity, require less maintenance once established, and help preserve Jamaica’s natural heritage.
But this project is not only about planting trees, it is about educating future leaders. Students participate in collecting seeds, propagating seedlings, learning plant science, measuring growth, calculating carbon benefits and transplanting trees into the community. This approach integrates science, mathematics, literacy, and environmental studies in a way that is engaging, practical, and aligned with the National Standards Curriculum of Jamaica. Just as importantly, the nursery becomes a living classroom where students develop valuable skills, such as responsibility, teamwork, problem-solving, and long-term thinking.
The layout of the tree nursery includes a shade house, covered pot beds, a tool shed, a compost bin, a rain catchment system, and stools. The shade house is based on the Mittleider design, which is adapted to the Caribbean heat because of its double gable roof that provides adequate ventilation. Notably, this type of shade house/greenhouse is used in Cockpit Country and throughout Guyana.
The project is funded by the CCRIF SPC, which was established as a pioneering regional insurance mechanism to address the significant financial vulnerability of Caribbean and Central American countries to natural hazards. It provides parametric insurance, meaning payouts are triggered automatically based on predefined hazard levels (such as hurricane wind speed, earthquake magnitude, or rainfall intensity) rather than assessed losses.
Beyond disaster insurance coverage, CCRIF also supports social and community resilience through a scholarship programme for Caribbean students, technical assistance such as risk modeling, training, and capacity building for member governments, and a small grants programme providing funding for community organizations and schools to support climate adaptation, disaster preparedness, and resilience projects.​ Overall, CCRIF helps countries recover quickly after disasters and strengthens regional resilience to climate and natural hazards.
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There are many ways that you can participate in the tree nursery project. You can answer the online questionnaire on locally important plants in Negril to provide data for students to research traditional ecological knowledge (TEK). You can take part in the tree seed collection drive as well as volunteer to plant trees on your property or to help build the tree nursery.​
